Professional & Pregnant
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34147
Printed Date: 20 August 2025 at 7:59pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Professional & Pregnant
Posted By: Isabella
Subject: Professional & Pregnant
Date Posted: 18 June 2010 at 8:04pm
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Hi Guys,
I am 8 weeks pregnant and finishing up study this year for a high demand, well respected profession. I was wondering if anyone else has thoughts or opinions on this matter. I have found that throughout my study no one has ever discussed being pregnant in this career even though the majority of my classmates are female. I have told a few close friends in the industry and they meet the news with... oh but what about your career... I am sure that there can be both!? It is really hard to get excited about this amazing thing happening in our lives when the attitude toward me is so poor. Ive heard being a mum is the hardest job in the world but can it be shared with other jobs? 
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Replies:
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 18 June 2010 at 8:14pm
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Congrats on your pg! Sorry hear that you haven't had much support so far.
I am sure that your career can be combined with motherhood if that is what you want to do, along as you have the right support networks in place then you can do anything! A friend from high school (who I lost touch with) is a doctor at the practice I use, and she has just had her 2nd baby. From what I understand her DH stays home with their boys while she works. A friend is a nurse, she had a year off with each of her girls, she is lucky that she only works 3 or 4 days a week now and the girls are cared for by a combo of her, DC and her Mum. From what I can see both of them are successfully combining career and motherhood. Good luck! ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 18 June 2010 at 8:19pm
First of all, congrats on your pregnancy 
Second, being a Mum is hard but definitely not without it's many rewards. I don't work, but plenty of the Mums on here do, so I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice and encouragement
Best of luck! ------------- 
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 20 June 2010 at 8:40pm
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Its a hard one. is there any possibilty of doing part time for a while. Im slightly on the crazy side but im still studying bio-medical science and i only took a couple of weeks of with both my kids but seeing as its part-time its not really the same. i plan on finishing post grad and staying part time until both kids are at school and then really getting in to the industry.
its an individual thing as to how much you are ok with having your kids in care, if at all. while my kids are young i only have few hours, when they are older a bit more but if you are happy for your child to be in care there is no reason at all you cant continue on with your career. i feel i could cope with kids and full time but i like spending some time during the week at home. everyone is different too, dont let ppl freak you out about how hard it is being a mum. i spend a lot of time playing with blocks, music, toys, reading etc... and love it, but love it more if i have some time to myself to hang out at uni with like minded ppl. i dont find being a mum hard at all though im sure things will change as the kids get older and i get 12 hours a week off to go to uni so for me that really helps. sorry for the long post. lol ------------- 
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Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 20 June 2010 at 10:53pm
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I'm sorry you've not received much support so far.
You say you're finishing up study. Does this mean that you've not yet got a job? I must admit that if you've not yet got a job in the profession, I would have said something similar. Many women have waited until they are well established in their career before they start a family (as I'm sure you're aware). This could be the reason for the 'surprise' that your industry friends have shown. Presumably, you're just starting out which could be alot harder with a baby. Not totally impossible but you will need to ensure that you have the means and support to further your career. A few bits of advice: Be prepared to be possibly judged. People may make assumptions about you and it will be a spectrum of "What sort of a mother would want to go out to work so soon if she didn't have to?" to "She's not going to be good for much, she's just had a baby....". You're probably going to work your butt off to prove that you don't have nappy brain. I would recommend that while you are 'out' of the industry, have lunch with said industry friends as often as possible to talk about changes and developments. It can feel overwhelming going back to work when you have been away for so long so try to keep abreast of any changes (law changes, client changes, industry gossip etc). ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 21 June 2010 at 8:22am
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I guess it depends on the profession a bit (I'm guessing vet?) but I've done something kinda similar. Certainly I bred before the *approved* moment, but hey, it's my life! And I don't regret it for a second.
I found my peers (i.e. young, predominantly female, starting out in career) tended to be a lot less supportive than the older set (who ultimately are the ones who employ me) who already have kids and appreciate the positives of them. One positive I've found with having kids early is that I never had the chance to pick up a whole lot of additional tasks that I would then have had to palm off to take leave. I'm going back 3 days a week in 2 weeks, and while I'm under no illusions that it's going to be full-on, I have good support and I'll be ok. And in a few years time, all my peers will be having their own kids, and mine will be old enough that I can step up and take up some of their slack then. They may not appreciate that now, but they will one day. I don't know if that helped any, but I say ignore them. Congrats on the pregnancy and go live your life your way If you want the career you'll make it work for you.------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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